History

Richmond is a London borough with a long history. A Royal Palace was built here in 1125, remnants of which remain to this day.

It was in Richmond that many great events of English history were planned and overseen, monarchs lived and died and great literary figures such as Charles Dickens and Virginia Woolf wrote some of their finest works.

The Duke Street Legacy

Like the town, Duke Street Church has a long history. There has been a gospel witness on this site since the middle of the nineteenth century. The Church began when CH Spurgeon – the great ‘Prince of Preachers’ – sent one of his students, FB Meyer, to begin a long line of ‘famous’ servants, including Alan Redpath and Stephen Olford. Dr Billy Graham and his mother have worshipped with us and Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preached at the opening of our current church building. Since its earliest days, Duke Street has faithfully maintained its witness to the message of Jesus Christ – in days of spiritual decline and of revival. The Church has had a history of innovation and experimentation when it comes to getting the Christian message out to the community and the world.

1868 to 1869 (2 years) Rev. Frederick B Meyer (later Dr Meyer)
1870 to 1872 (3 years) Rev. Robert Colman
1873 to 1875 (3 years) Rev. John Whittaker
1875 to 1884 (9 years) Rev. J Hunt Cooke
1885 to 1890 (6 years) Mr James J Ellis
1892 to 1898 (7 years) Rev. Ernest Matthews
1899 to 1921 (23 years) Rev. Horace Ward
1922 to 1925 (4 years) Rev. E B Greening
1926 to 1939 (14 years) Rev. F W Walter
1940 to 1953 (13 years) Rev. Alan Redpath
1953 to 1959 (6 years) Rev Stephen F Olford
1959 to 1972 (13 years) Rev John L Bird ( to 1st October 1972)
1974 to 1984 (9 years) Rev William Freel BD (October 1974 to May 1984)
1986 to 1999 (12 years) Rev Robert Amess BA (June 1986 to March 1999)
2000 to date (10+ years) Rev Dr Liam Goligher (from 8th April 2000)